The Global Hybrid Electric Challenge (GHEC) is a hands-on educational program for institutions of higher learning with engineering, science, technology and business management programs. It is the first electric vehicle university competition held in the Middle East and North Africa (in 2014), and the first in Egypt (in 2016). Student teams apply engineering design principles and strategy to construct and race full-size electric and hybrid-electric cars. The primary goal of the competition is to provide a hands-on environment in which the students apply what they learn in the classroom to devise real-world solutions. The project also helps improve their understanding of renewable energy technologies and project management while working in a team environment. Other aspects of the program involve marketing, PR and fundraising as well as logistics planning in preparation for the races. The adoption of this program in the Egypt serves as an excellent venue for young men and women in engineering and business management to better prepare them for their careers in industry.

The official entries are single person, lightweight, aerodynamic, high efficiency, electric-motor-driven vehicles with three wheels. They must meet specific design and safety rules. This year the cars will be powered with advanced batteries and an energy monitoring system. A petrol generator and charger are used to provide additional range to the batteries. Teams have prescribed choices of hybrid configurations, and must declare their choice prior to the competition. Students are supplied a complete set of official components that they must engineer and assemble. Speeds are software limited through the controller to insure utmost safety.

The competition is held in two phases. The first phase is the Electric Grand Prix (E-GP) competition whereby teams drive their electrically powered vehicles as far as possible for one hour on the closed loop course using only energy stored in their batteries. The winner of the E-GP is the team with the longest distance travelled during this period. The second phase is the Hybrid-Electric Grand Prix (HE-GP) competition in which teams use petrol to increase their range and run as far as possible in a period of three hours on the closed loop course. The winner of the HE-GP is the team with the longest distance traveled in the three hour. The results of the two competitions are combined to decide on the overall challenge winner.

Unlike other types of conventional car races, this challenge is focused on demonstrating the highest levels of efficiency and energy management. The primary objective is to travel the longest distance in a fixed amount of time and with a fixed amount of fuel and stored electrical energy.

The cars are equipped with battery packs capable of storing approximately 1.0 kW-hr of energy. When the competition begins on the first day, the battery packs are expected to be fully charged, hence all the cars start with the same amount of stored electrical energy. The teams also use gasoline engines with chargers which provide additional electrical energy to the batteries. Each team is provided 3.6 Liters and this is the only additional source of energy during the competition. Therefore, with an initial 1.0 kW-hr of electrical energy and 3.6 Liters of fuel, the teams must travel the longest distance in the fixed time.

The actual race is comprised of two days of racing. On the first day, the teams will race for two sessions, each half an hour in length. During each session, they must change drivers once around the 15 minute mark. During this one hour of total racing time, the teams can only use energy stored in their batteries, and no petrol usage is allowed. This first day is referred to as the electric vehicle race since the cars are powered with electric energy only.

The second day is comprised of a single three hour session, with driver changes required every half an hour. In this scenario, the teams are allowed to use their generator engines to generate electricity that charges their batteries before the start of the racing session, and during the race.

Teams may opt to carry the generators and charges on their vehicles, or keep them at their pit areas and charge only when they pit. Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. It is interesting to see the choices the teams make and how that decision impacts their performance. In Egypt, all teams opted for the onboard option.

Teams are provided basic kits comprised of all the major components they need to build the cars. This includes the chassis, outer shell, canopy, motor, controller, batteries, etc. There is still a significant amount of engineering required to determine how to best integrate these components to achieve the highest reliability and efficiency possible. Teams also may redesign or substitute any part of the kit with the exception of the batteries, motor, generator, and charger. The goal is to encourage the engineering students to innovate and experiment with different technologies, while meeting the basic rule of available energy source and storage.

The cars are single person, lightweight, aerodynamic, high-efficiency, electric-motor-driven vehicles with three wheels. They must meet specific design and safety rules, and are powered by LiFePO4 or SLA battery packs with an energy capacity of 1.0 kW-hr. In addition to battery storage, the cars utilize a petrol engine generator which provides electricity for a charger which powers the electric motor and charges the battery pack. The car is also equipped with an advanced instrumentation gauge which provides feedback about the health of the cells and the vehicle performance.

The generators utilize sophisticated electronics which condition and stabilize the electric power. They can also run in eco mode which reduces the energy consumption and emissions. A battery management system is also attached to the advanced battery pack to balance the energy storage between the cells and provide data which is used by the teams to optimize their race strategy.

Teams must select one of two generator choices which must be declared at the event registration. There are two generator options, GEN1 and GEN2. The onboard option, GEN1, is rated at approximately 1 KW, while the offboard option, GEN2, is 2 KW.

GEN1 vehicles must integrate the generator and charger within the vehicle and they must be carried on the vehicle and cannot be removed at any time during racing. The generator must be properly separated from the driver area and must not come in contact with any parts of the driver at any given time. Proper ventilation of the exhaust must be provided and must exit in the rear of the vehicle behind the driver. Proper cooling must also be provided for the engine. Chargers in the GEN1 option may not be modified in any way whatsoever. The Generator may be modified externally to allow for integration into the vehicle, such as removing exterior plastic panels or adding mounting fixtures. No internal modifications to the generator or fuel system are allowed.

Awards are granted to the top three finishers of the electric vehicle grand prix on the first day, the top three finishers of the hybrid-electric grand prix on the second day, and the top three overall winners. To determine the overall challenge winners, the number of laps for the first day is multiplied by three and added to the number of laps for the second day, hence providing an equal weight per a three hour session.

In addition to the race performance winners, awards are given for the following categories:

Fastest Qualifying Time: awarded to the team with the fastest time during the qualifying sessions held on the first day.

Technical Innovation: awarded to the team that demonstrates a technical innovation above and beyond the basic design.

Best Presentation: awarded to the team that gives the best presentation to the judges, describing how the team was structured, the process for constructing the vehicle, the challenges faced in the project, and lessons learned.

Sportsmanship: awarded to the team that exhibits the highest level of sportsmanship by helping other teams, following the rules and regulations, and abiding by the official decisions.

Team Safety: awarded to the team that conducts the race with the highest safety standard in the design of the vehicle, following track race rules, and managing the pit stops.

Vehicle Graphics Design: awarded to the team with the most creative and best executed graphics design and paint/decals.

Vehicle Workmanship: awarded to the team that showed the highest attention to detail and quality in constructing the vehicle, both in fit-and-finish, and sturdiness.

Best Photo: awarded to the most creative and well executed photo submitted by the teams.

Best Video: awarded to the most creative and well executed video submitted by the teams.

Technical Report: awarded to the best written technical report.

3D Printing: awarded to the most innovative and well executed use of 3D printing in the vehicle.

Date: Thursday

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Teams bring cars and tools/equipment and setup for inspection

Teams submit award photos and videos on clearly marked USB drives

10:00 AM

Technical inspection and scrutineering opens

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Practice session 1 on the track

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Lunch boxes served at the racing track

3:30 – 5:00 PM

Practice session 2 on the track

6:00 PM

Technical inspection and scrutineering closes

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Welcome reception and dinner

Date: Friday – PUBLIC DAY 1

9:00 AM

All-hands team meeting – Everyone MUST attend

Breakout meetings

Safety Specialists meeting

Drivers and Track Personnel meeting

Media/Guest Liaison meeting

10:00 AM

Technical inspection and scrutineering opens

Track opens for qualification runs

Practice runs will be allowed by approval of track steward

2:00 PM

Track closes for qualification runs

Technical inspection and scrutineering closes

3:00 PM

Official event photo – ALL team members and cars report to track

3:45 PM

Cars report to the start line for Heat 1

4:00 – 4:30 PM

First EV heat, with mandatory driver change at 15 minutes

4:45 PM

Cars report to the start line for Heat 2

5:00 – 5:30 PM

Second EV heat, with mandatory driver change at 15 minutes

5:30 – 8:00 PM

Teams allowed to work on cars – No Battery Charging Allowed

8:00 PM

Parc fermé – cars locked up for the night

Date: Saturday – PUBLIC DAY 2

8:00 AM

Teams move cars out of parc fermé

Teams allowed to work on cars – No Battery Charging Allowed

Officials dispense fuel canisters

Official Battery Charging with Generators begins

12:45 PM

Cars report to the start line for final race

1:00 – 4:00 PM

Hybrid-Electric race – mandatory driver change every 30 minutes

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Awards ceremony dinner reception

All cars on display at reception

The race rules and vehicle design regulations may be requested by sending an email to competitions@GlobalEEE.org. This challenge will only run the Gel Pb-x battery/gasoline generator stock class. Novice teams and experienced teams will compete together.

All teams are required to display the event sticker (16" x 12") on both sides, containing the three digit car number and event sponsors. Participants will be required to fill out liability waiver forms. These forms will be sent to your team after registration and will be available at the competition.

If you have any questions about the interpretation of a rule please fill out the "Contact Us" form. Do not wait to the day of the race to find out if your vehicle meets the rules.

Copyright 2019 - Global EEE Next Competition will be held on 2-4 April 2020 in Egypt